What would be the essential difference if I bought Afrika Corps and all the DLCs instead of buying the core game and all the DLCs? There is a $10 dollar difference between the core game and Afrika Corps.

Is it just a matter not having the scenarios included in the core game?

Heh you're right, and I was wrong. Didn't believe you so I checked it, but you're 100% correct, the DLC's need either the core game or the AK expansion. I had prematurely assumed that the DLC's wouldn't work with the AK expansion because Africa starts later, not in '39 with the first of the DLC's. So yeah in that case I wouldn't know the answer to your question... obviously you can't play the scenarios in the core game, but I don't play much scenarios anyways.

Heh you're right, and I was wrong. Didn't believe you so I checked it, but you're 100% correct, the DLC's need either the core game or the AK expansion. I had prematurely assumed that the DLC's wouldn't work with the AK expansion because Africa starts later, not in '39 with the first of the DLC's. So yeah in that case I wouldn't know the answer to your question... obviously you can't play the scenarios in the core game, but I don't play much scenarios anyways.

No problem. With AK the game does install the core game and the update but without a valid serial for the latter you can only play AK and the various campaigns, but not the core scenarios or the campaigns that game with the original.